W E D N E S D A Y
September 17, 2025 Vol. 46, No. 12
1980 - 2025
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J URNAL WJ45
@wednesdayjournal
@oakpark
of Oak Park and River Forest
ICE agents at Oak Park Village Hall Friday, depart quickly ICE agents were present on Village Hall property last week, but only spoke briefly with OPPD officers
Page 6
No to QuikTrip says plan commission
Gas station giant QuikTrip bid for blighted Mohr Concrete site must overcome commission roadblock
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Multiple U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agents were present on Oak Park’s Village Hall property last week but reportedly left after a brief interaction with local police. On Friday, Sept. 12th at approximately 10:45 a.m., multiple ICE agents were in the parking lot of village hall at Madison Street and Lombard Avenue. Members of the Oak PAGE 15 Park Police Department approached and briefly spoke with the ICE agents present in the parking lot and the federal agents left the property after about 15 minutes “without issue,” according to village staff.” “The agents did not attempt to enter the building or engage with anyone else
Julian streetscape progress
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
man told Wednesday Journal she appreciated village staff for handling the interaction responsibly and in accordance with the sanctuary ordinance. “Village staff responded appropriately to protect our personnel and residents proactively,” she said. “The Village of
Oak Park’s plan commission voted to encourage the village board to block permit applications related to plans to build a major gas station at the long-vacant former Mohr concrete site along Harlem Avenue. Oklahoma-based QuikTrip is looking to redevelop the former H.J. Mohr & Sons Co. Concrete site which sits along Maple Avenue, Harlem Avenue, Garfield Street and Lexington Street just south of the Eisenhower Exspressway in Oak Park, as first reported by Wednesday Journal in July. The proposal was the subject of Oak Park’s Plan Commission’s Thursday, Sept.
See ICE on page 15
See QUICKTRIP on page 13
ICE DENIES RIVER FOREST ACTION
ADOBE STOCK
at that time,” Dan Yopchick, Oak Park spokesperson, told Wednesday Journal by email. Oak Park has a sanctuary ordinance on its book that bars village employees from assisting ICE in any civil immigration investigation without a signed court order compelling them to do so. Oak Park Village President Vicki Sca-
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